Phil SumblerSteve Cooper was interviewed on Talksport on the side of the Wembley pitch shortly after the play off final and his comments seem to suggest that he already knows he is on his way from Swansea with Crystal Palace the favourite destination.
Whilst the Swans boss was not necessarily talking in the past tense about his time at the club his comments certainly suggested that today could have been his last game in charge and possibly would have been whatever the outcome of the play-off final.
Cooper has been heavily linked with the Crystal Palace job ever since Roy Hodgson announced he was leaving Selhurst Park at the end of the season. He was almost immediately installed as the favourite for the job although he always insisted that his focus was on the Swans play-off campaign and helping them into the Premier League.
The last part of that failed this afternoon on a bitterly disappointing day at Wembley and his post match comments suggested that his departure may not be a million miles away from being confirmed.
Sometimes it is easy to read things into words that were said in the heat of the moment but not only did it sound that way as he said it, it was certainly the impression of the presenters that Cooper was talking as if he already knew he was off.
Asked about plans for next season he talked about “the club needing to have plans which I am sure they will talk about” and he went onto say that “I have enjoyed my two years here and will look back on the time with fondness” which is certainly not the words of a man who is planning for next season or at least not at Swansea anyway.
It will be interesting to watch this one develop but certainly from a 2/3 minute interview you did get the impression that things have been happening behind the scenes and the future of Steve Cooper is sealed. And very possibly away from Swansea.
It would be a major surprise if Steve Cooper isn’t on his way to Palace! The writing has been on the wall for his departure since the January transfer window when the wilful actions of the frankly very naive (in football terns) American owners led to two unfit, injury prone and unproven US-based players being installed rather than meeting the obvious need for a proven centre forward at this level. This must surely having been incredibly frustrating for Cooper who knew then, if he didn’t know before, that he needed to going into the remaining months of a promotion chasing season, with one hand tied behind his back. It’s probably the main reason why Potter baled out after just one season and now Cooper after two.
This is the start of the end for Swansea. Parachute payments finished, top players will leave, and a new novice manager on the way in. The best we can hope for is mid table for the foreseeable future …….. at best. We have been sold out by the previous shareholders, and the amateur American owners will raid the club for whatever they can get to recoup some of their money.
Where were the YANKS yesterday
What top players? Ayew will leave and the loanees, only Guehi of whom is anywhere near top class anyway. Someone might take a chance on Connor Roberts who has qualities. The rest are average Championship players. Cooper found a wing-back based style that suited them until other teams sussed it. The thinness of the squad also caught up with them and some players became jaded. Once they reverted to 4-3-3 their limitations were obvious. Swansea were the fifth best team in the division after the three promoted and Bournemouth. Given their resources it’s hard to expect more.
If Cooper goes they won’t get Wagner or anyone else with a record as manager unless the owners find some money from somewhere and invest it.